Subsurface photodisruption in scattering biological tissue

Zachary S. Sacks; Greg J. R. Spooner; Ron M. Kurtz M.D.; Tibor Juhasz; Gerard A. Mourou

doi:10.1117/12.405935

3 November 2000 Subsurface photodisruption in scattering biological tissue

Zachary S. Sacks, Greg J. R. Spooner, Ron M. Kurtz M.D., Tibor Juhasz, Gerard A. Mourou

Proceedings Volume 4162, Controlling Tissue Optical Properties: Applications in Clinical Study; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.405935
Event: EOS/SPIE European Biomedical Optics Week, 2000, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Approximately five million people worldwide are blind due to complications from glaucoma. Current surgical techniques often fail due to infection and scarring. Both failure routes are associated with damaging surface tissues. Femtosecond lasers allow a method to create a highly precise incision beneath the surface of the tissue without damaging any of the overlying layers. However, subsurface surgery can only be performed where the beam can be focused tightly enough to cause optical breakdown. Under normal conditions, subsurface surgery is not possible since sclera is highly scattering. Using two independent methods, we show completely subsurface surgery in human sclera using a femtosecond laser. The first method is to make the sclera transparent by injecting a dehydrating agent. The second method is to choose a wavelength that is highly focusable in the sclera. Both methods may be applied in other tissues, such as skin. We show highly precise incisions in in vitro tissues. Subsurface femtosecond photodisruption may be useful for in vivo surgical technique to perform a completely subsurface surgery.

Citation Download Citation

Zachary S. Sacks, Greg J. R. Spooner, Ron M. Kurtz M.D., Tibor Juhasz, and Gerard A. Mourou "Subsurface photodisruption in scattering biological tissue", Proc. SPIE 4162, Controlling Tissue Optical Properties: Applications in Clinical Study, (3 November 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.405935

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